Fourths to charles m



(No Model.)

I L. MORRIS.

MAIL BAG PASTENER.

Patented Dec. 13

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Gfliozma Phulo-Lilhogmp eh Washingiun. o. c,

IUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISA AC L. MORRIS, OF BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TO CHARLES M. MORRIS AND OSCARIVOLFF, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL-BAG FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,903, dated December13, 1887.

Serial No. 254,919. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC L. MoRRIs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Balti more city, in the State of Maryland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Fasteners; and I dohereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mail-bags, which willbe hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a side view of the top part of a mail-bag with the fastenersattached thereto. Fig. 2 rep resents the mouth of the bag spread open.Fig. 3 is the inside, view ofa lock,which is attached to one bar of thefastener. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the lock and bolt on line :0a: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents the key. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectionof Fig. 1 on line 1 y. Fig. 7 is an end view of the bolt of the lock.Fig. 8 is a face view and section of label-holder.

F is a bag of usual form and'dimensions, fastened by rivets f.

A A are two metal platesextending from the middle of the bag to the lineof rivets on each edge.

A A are corresponding plates on the opposite side of the bag. The platesA A are secured to the material of which the bag is made by small rivetsct.

B is a flap of leather riveted to the side of the bag that the hooks areon. In Fig. 6 is shown a section of the top of the bag where the flap Bis turned over from under the plates A to the side whereon are theplates A. The flap and two sides of the bag have the slits correspondingto the staples D, which staples are attached to the plates A A andprojectinto the bag, as seen in Fig. 2, and which pass through the slitsin the other side and the'flap B and through the plates A, so that thefingers or projections b on the pivoted bars B B, which bars are bent,as shown in Fig. 1, and,strongly pivoted to the plates A A at c c,wi1lpass into the staples D from opposite directions. The fingers b are onthe opposite edges of the pivoted bars B and turned in oppositedirections,

so that as the bars are turned these fingers enter the staples fromopposite sides, as seen by the arrows, Fig. 1. At the inner end of eachbar is formed an eye, E. In one of these is pivoted a lock, G, (shown indetail in Figs. 3 and 4,) by a pivot, g, by which the lock is attachedto a boss, I), of the bar B, and permits the lock to have such play asmay be necessary in the elasticity of the bag. On the corresponding endofthe other bar B is a catch, G, which is pivoted to the bar, as seen inFig. 4. The two ends of the swivel-bars B are shown in Fig. 2 at E Ewith holes for an ordi' nary padlock, which can be used; but it ispreferred to make a lock similar to the one shown in Figs. 3 and 4, tobe permanently pivoted to the bars, as described. When the bag has beenfilled and is to be secured, the two sides are to be brought togetheruntil the staples all pass through their appropriate holes in the sidesand plates, the swivel-bars B are moved into place, and the fingers benter the staples D until the two ends E E meet, when the catch G willenter the lock G and secure the ends of the bars 13 without the use of akey, which is only used for unlocking. The ends of the swivel-bars Bbeing secured, all the fingers are safely fastened thereby. If a padlockis used, the loop of thelock is to be passed through the two holes at EE, and thu confine the ends of the swivel-bars B.

In Fig. 8 is represented a label-holder of the ordinary construction,except at the end M, where the slit in is closed by the finger b,whichis one of the series of fingers which engage the staples D. Thislabel-holder is riveted to the plate A, so that the end M may be sosituated that the slit m can be closed by one of the hooks b, as shownat M in Fig. 1.

I claim 1. In mail-bag fasteners, the centrally-pivoted bars B, havingrigidly'attached fingers or projections to interlock with correspondingstaples on the clamping-plates, and having at their inner ends loops E Eor a lock, substantially as described, for securing. the ends together.

2. In mail-bag fasteners, the combination of 100 the plates A,havin gthe centrally-pivoted bars, B, supplied with fingers or projections inopposite directions, the clamping-plates A, having staples D, tocorrespond with said fingers or projections, and a covering-flap withslits therein, as described. 3. In mail-bags, the label-holder securedto the clamping-plate, as described, in combina- 5 tion with the fingeror projection of the pivoted bar B, for securing the removable label,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ISAAC L. MORRIS.

Witnesses:

JOHN LAUTERBURN, ORLANDO J. ROBINSON.

